Sustainable Design Courses

Click here for information on the AEC Daily Sustainability Rating System.

Displaying 276 - 300 of 402 results.

FIRST PREV [226-250] [251-275] [276-300] [301-325] [326-350] NEXT LAST

  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Plumbing design is highly regulated; improper design and installation can pose a serious health risk or result in costly property damage. This course reviews the plumbing codes and standards that govern plumbing fittings and fixtures, with special attention to standards to control the leaching of organics, metals, and lead into drinking water.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Railing systems perform various functions, meeting safety requirements and serving as a key component of a building’s aesthetic. This course includes a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of aluminum and structural vinyl railing systems, how they are made, and how they are used in the building industry, including a detailed summary of how they meet various code requirements.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course examines bamboo as a sustainable construction material by focusing on its properties, environmental advantages, and innovative applications. Participants will explore responsible sourcing, manufacturing practices, and key certifications. The course also covers advanced products such as thermally modified and high-density bamboo. Professionals will gain the knowledge required to integrate bamboo into projects that align with performance and sustainability standards.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course introduces acetylated wood as a sustainable building material, exploring its origin, modification process, and environmental benefits. Participants will learn how acetylation enhances wood durability, stability, and resistance to decay—extending its service life and reducing maintenance. The course highlights how acetylated wood supports green building goals through renewable sourcing and nontoxic treatment and may help meet credit requirements in the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems, the WELL Building Standard™ version 2, and the Sustainable SITES Initiative® v2. Real-world case studies demonstrate its use in architectural and preservation projects, offering practical insights into sustainable design applications.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Kitchen and bathroom sinks serve as both functional necessities and design focal points, seamlessly integrating into a variety of architectural styles and design visions. Participants will explore sink materials and design considerations to enhance safety, sustainability, accessibility, and user experience. The course provides an overview of commercial and residential applications and trends and strategies for incorporating sinks into building design.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Sustainable building envelopes demand high performance from and proper installation of continuous insulation and air, water, and vapor control layers. What happens when thousands of holes are made in these materials as they are installed with blind fasteners, one layer on top of another by different subcontractors? Sequencing issues can generally not be avoided; instead, this course focuses on self-sealing fasteners as a solution to avoid damage and thermal bridging in insulation and control layers. Various fasteners and anchors are described, and recommendations are presented for how to specify and what testing data to look for.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) insulation is one of North America’s most widely used, readily available, and cost-effective insulation products. While polyiso is currently most commonly known for its use on roofs and walls, this course focuses on the many benefits of using it in below-grade installations in order to meet energy codes, maximize the building foundation’s thermal performance, and extend the overall life of the structure. The course explores the requirements for three primary characteristics of any below-grade insulation—thermal performance, water absorption, and load capacity—and describes how polyiso meets or exceeds those requirements and protects the foundation waterproofing system.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The increase in building energy efficiency requirements has led to the use of exterior continuous insulation (CI) to improve the performance of the building envelope. This presentation reviews the benefits of polyiso continuous insulation and then examines in detail the NFPA 285 test standard and fire safety requirements of the 2021 International Building Code for the use of polyisocyanurate insulation in exterior walls of commercial buildings (Construction Types I—IV).

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The implementation of synthetic surfacing for leisure and performance applications is rapidly growing. Artificial materials such as synthetic turf (grass), synthetic green walls, and poured-in-place and court surfacing often outperform their natural counterparts. Additionally, increased safety standards and design expectations have accelerated innovation in the materials available to designers. This course outlines synthetic surfacing options and examines synthetic turf systems, detailing their design considerations, performance features, sustainability and health benefits, and associated return on investment (ROI).

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Electric heating systems have been in use for over a century, and in that period, they have significantly advanced in terms of their efficiency, cost effectiveness, safety, versatility, and appearance. Recently, electricity production itself has become more and more environmentally friendly and economically viable. This course explores how the wide range of contemporary electric heating options can efficiently and economically address virtually every heating need in every building type and thus capitalize on the steadily increasing benefits of electricity to create the most environmentally responsible and economically viable heating solutions.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    This course explores how to use coil and extrusion coatings in the built environment and how innovative coatings contribute to sustainability initiatives.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Green building rating system crosswalks are tools that identify where systems are equivalent or aligned, providing a streamlined approach that can help projects achieve dual certifications. This course provides an overview of the crosswalks related to automated window shades and daylight control in LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction (BD+C): New Construction and Core and Shell, LEED v4.1 Interior Design and Construction (ID+C): Commercial Interiors, and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2. Also discussed are trade-offs between project parameters and rating system requirements that designers and architects must consider. 

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    A metal roof combines performance and aesthetics to give commercial and residential buildings strength, longevity, and character. This course examines the features and benefits of standing seam metal roofing and explains the factors to consider when selecting a project-specific metal roofing system.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    New technology and improvements in masonry veneer installation can help your team save time and money in the construction process while providing superior results. In this course, you'll learn how cutting-edge technology is helping masons move beyond traditional lath and scratch and be introduced to the principles behind enhanced masonry veneer installation systems (EMVIS). Learn how to create permanent, high-strength installations for residential, commercial, and industrial applications using EMVIS with fortified mortars and innovative waterproofing barrier membranes that protect against air and water penetration.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The use of sustainable materials and products during building design will become the standard within the construction industry, and environmental product declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) help architects and owners make informed decisions for their projects. Insulated metal panels— a prime example of a sustainable product—are one of the most cost-effective solutions to reduce energy and greenhouse gases.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 15 minutes ) 

    Policies targeting the reduction of carbon emissions associated with building products require the disclosure of embodied carbon data to inform those policies and verify whether reduction targets or incentive requirements have been met. This course aims to provide a guide to collecting high-quality embodied carbon data.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Energy conservation and occupant well-being, comfort, and productivity are issues of increasing concern in building design. This course illustrates how radiant heating and cooling systems address these issues positively and efficiently. It encompasses the various types of systems available and how they can contribute to credit requirements in the LEED® v4.1 Building Design and Construction rating system and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2. System workings, design, aesthetic considerations, advantages, testing and measuring protocols, and installation procedures are reviewed, and the course concludes with several installation examples.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Ventilation grilles influence HVAC system performance but can pose aesthetic challenges for designers. Custom grilles made with modern fabrication techniques employ a variety of materials and finishes to create solutions that enhance and fully integrate with architectural interiors. This course discusses the basic mechanics of effective air distribution in buildings, performance characteristics of grilles, grille types, and custom design options.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly becoming ubiquitous. To serve them sufficiently, there must be a massive expansion of car charging options, and that infers that planners and designers must create those options and opportunities now. This course examines the current trends in, and predictions for, EV chargers, the various types and their attributes, where and how they might be installed for maximum effectiveness, and the programs and incentives that apply to both EVs and their charger requirements.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Paint in its various forms is an older material whose composition has constantly evolved, even in modern times. This evolution has included the identification and removal of certain hazardous ingredients. Similarly, paint removers have also evolved and improved their ability to deal with a wide range of old and new paint formulas while remaining safe for the occupant, the worker, and the environment at large. This course examines state-of-the-art nontoxic paint removers that are effective in removing as many as thirty coats of paint in one safe and efficient operation.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour, 15 minutes ) 

    Building owners have come to rely on weatherable coatings to provide long-term protection to their buildings. With an increased focus on sustainability, performance, and durability, PVDF resin-based coatings can help architects and painting contractors exceed their clients’ design goals. This course covers the key components and functions of high-performance weatherable coatings and looks at how these coatings contribute to sustainable design.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    The AIA Materials Pledge identifies five impact areas that building products and materials can and should address: ecosystem health, social health and equity, circular economy, climate health, and human health. This course reviews the concepts, certifications, and tools designers can apply to choose materials that support these five impact areas, including the mindful MATERIALS Common Materials Framework (CMF), the industry’s first common language for sustainable building materials. Finally, the course presents practical examples of exemplary products and materials and assesses them using this framework.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Interior design and fashion design have a natural connection and similarities in process and production. Both have faced new challenges in achieving sustainable results in their projects. This course explores the contrasting philosophies of fast and slow production and shows how to evaluate the true environmental cost of a product. A case study is presented, demonstrating how an artist/designer can collaborate with a product manufacturer to address sustainability through the creation of innovative bamboo-based designs that may help meet credit requirements in the LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction rating systems and the WELL Building Standard™ version 2.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Buildings, roads, and man-made landscapes can harm the natural environment with their effect on the natural water cycle. Architects and designers need to be aware of the best practices and experts’ recommendations to specify the correct type of drainage system that serves users and protects the environment. This course discusses the positive contributions of modern drainage systems to the built environment and their role in improving sustainability. The technical and aesthetic aspects of trench drain design are also covered.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER
  • ( ~ 1 hour ) 

    Composite roofing materials have been available for over a decade, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional slate and shake roofing systems. In this course, design professionals can thoroughly explore the sustainable and versatile characteristics of composite roofing solutions. Also discussed are the benefits of composite roofing systems, such as their long life cycle, durability, and adaptability for various applications and environments.

    Ask a Question
    SAVE FOR LATER

Displaying 276 - 300 of 402 results.

FIRST PREV [226-250] [251-275] [276-300] [301-325] [326-350] NEXT LAST